JnK CM slams NMC move to revoke MBBS permission to Vaishno Devi medical college

This year, a total of 40 out of 50 seats were allotted to Kashmiri students. In a year or two, the number of seats would have increased to approximately 400, of which perhaps 200-250 would have gone to students from Jammu. However, these students will not get admission to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence because the entire institution has been shut down, he said

According to a RisingKashmir Media news report, Omar Abdullah, while speaking to reporters, said that the closure of the college is causing difficulties for hundreds of students seeking admission. He stated that they have jeopardised the future of J&K students. In this regard, he urged the Health Minister to intervene immediately and ensure that the affected students are shifted to medical colleges closest to their homes.

Omar said, "The students who will not get a seat in a medical college in the future because this college has been shut down should be given places in government medical colleges so that they can continue their studies and serve the people of this region."

He also criticised the decision, saying it reduces opportunities for students in J&K at a time when families elsewhere in the country are struggling to secure seats in medical colleges. Abdullah said, "If you are happy ruining the future of children, then go ahead and burst firecrackers. People are struggling for medical education. In Jammu and Kashmir, the fight has been to keep a college open”, he added.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) recently revoked the permission to Vaishno Devi Medical College for MBBS course.

The assessment and rating board of the apex medical commission noted non-compliance to minimum standards for MBBS education at the institute. With this, the order issued by the board called for the transfer of students admitted this year to other medical colleges in the state.

The decision comes in the backdrop of the recent inspection conducted by the NMC team, amid the protests over the MBBS admissions at the college.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that controversy erupted across Jammu following admission of 42 Muslim students out of a total of 50 students in the first batch to the medical college.

Dozens of protesters gathered earlier outside Lok Bhavan and set ablaze an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list. The protests were started by right-wing Hindu groups which later led to the formation of the Sangarsh Samiti and its leaders have already held talks with Lt Governor and leaders of the central government including Union health minister.

Tensions further rose over the MBBS admissions row with protestors planning to step up agitation. At a core committee meeting in Srinagar, Samiti leaders, along with representatives of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, alleged that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board acted unfairly and deviated from its mandate. They accused the Board of misusing shrine funds over the past two decades for infrastructure projects such as hospitals and universities instead of promoting Sanatan Dharma–related activities.

During the recent hunger strike call, the Protesters alleged imbalance in representation, claims that have been rejected by academic sources and student bodies, who maintain that the process is religion-neutral and fully merit-driven. Legal experts warned that cancelling merit-based admissions would violate constitutional principles and undermine the integrity of competitive examinations. Authorities are monitoring the situation, stating that admissions made under established rules cannot be annulled without valid legal grounds.

Amid all this, the National Medical Commission's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has withdrawn the letter of permission granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi for non-compliance with minimum standards.